Tour description

Welcome to the trip that combines fantastic bicycle routes and cooking lessons, all in Italy’s famous region of Tuscany. After you have worked up an appetite biking through the rolling landscape of Tuscany, you will cook and eat the best food!

La Cucina Toscana is simplicity in its purest form. Tuscan cooks have the freshest seasonal products at their disposal, including olive oil, wine and cheese, and do very little to alter their natural state. Most days will include a hands-on cooking class or a tasting at a local food artisan. You will also dine out at a simple osteria, family trattorias, and elegant restaurants.

Cyclists will explore gorgeous loop rides in beautiful Val d’orcia, passing such highlights as Pienza, Montalcino and San Quirico. The routes cross Val di Chiana, through Cortona to Crete Senesi and on to Siena.

Return home inspired, not only with new recipes to try, but also with the enthusiasm to cultivate the lessons you learn into your lifestyle!

Highlights

La Cucina Toscana

Olive oil, cheese, and wine tasting

Val d'orcia

Cortona

Siena

Etruscan architecture

Monticchiello, the quintessential Tuscan hill town

Learn more

Daily program

Day 1: Welcome to the Villa
Meet at the Chiusi train station (a major stop on all the Rome-Florence lines) at 14:00. Private van transfer to the country house Palazzi del Papa, just a short drive from Pienza. Check into your room and start the bike-fitting session and meet your guides. After all guest are set with bikes and equipment we'll have a short test bike ride in the valley.

Welcome dinner in Monticchiello at La Cantina della Porta.

Day 2: Cortona (28 miles/45 km)
After a welcome breakfast, we'll have a short transfer by van to just outside Montepulciano village to begin the first ride with a nice gentle downhill through the vino nobile vineyards. After this will be flat terrain--the Val di Chiana, once a swampy lowland--except for the final climb to reach the old town on the hill Cortona, one of Italy's oldest towns.

The first set of city walls were built by the Etruscans in the 4th century BC. Cortona became famous by Frances Mayes's bestselling book (also a movie), "Under the Tuscan Sun." Stroll the winding – narrow and steep! – medieval streets for a while.

Transfer back to the country house by van in the afternoon (or stronger cyclists have an option to ride back)! Dinner at Dopolavoro della Foce.

Day 3: Pienza, Montepulciano (29 miles/46 km)
Our ride today starts from the villa. The first stage is Pienza, a pristine Renaissance jewel, founded in 1458. Pope Pius II chose the famous Florentine architect Rossellino to transform his home village of Corsignano into one of the few examples left of 15th century architecture. The main product in this area is the pecorino cheese, a delicious, pungent cheese made using only sheep milk.

You'll continue to next village Montepulciano, known as the Pearl of the 16th Century. Do not miss the visit to an underground wine cellar. Back in the saddle, the last stop is the village of Monticchiello, the quintessential Tuscan hill town. Bold cypress trees line our route to the Orcia valley where we bike through the fields that inspired Renaissance painters.

Day 4: Montalcino and Brunello (30 miles/48 km)
Our ride starts from the villa: first stop after 10 km easy ride is the ancient Roman spa of Bagno Vignoni. Legend has it that Saint Catherine and Pope Pius II both bathed in the thermal waters here. The water has a constant temperature of 51 degrees Celsius (124 degrees Fahrenheit). At the heart of the village is the "Square of sources," a rectangular tank of 16th-century origin, which contains the original source of water that comes from the underground aquifer of volcanic origins.

Now the climb to Castiglione d’Orcia is the challenge part of the day. Once at the top, enjoy a long downhill till Romanesque abbey of Sant’Antimo that dates back to the time of Charlemagne. The final effort is 9 km gentle ascent to Montalcino – the hill town famous for Brunello wine made with the Sangiovese Grosso grape and aged a minimum of four years. After the visit we'll reach the Corte Pavone winery: you will taste this biodynamic and organic Brunello wine, learn about the aging process, and enjoy the lunch at the cellar. Return to the villa for the second cooking lesson.

Day 5: Radicofani and Pici (34 miles/55 km)
Today another terrific bike ride. Start from the villa and reach Radicofani, a medieval and enchanting village with one of the most impressive fortresses in Tuscany. Radicofani is included in the Park of val d’Orcia – a Unesco site and Via Francigena (which was the main route followed by pilgrims in antiquity who went to Rome), but still is off the beaten path. This will be the quietest day.

From Radicofani now we will ride another secluded road called le Conie and reach Bagni San Filippo. Enjoy the downhill back to the valley. The valley rises along Francigena road near the old Spedaletto Castle, shelter for wayfarers who, in the Middle Ages, wanted to get to Rome from all over Europe. The castle was readapted in a granary, a real fortified farm.

We'll head back to the country house by bike. This afternoon let's learn the classic pasta of the area: pici all’ aglione sauce and pici al ragu di chianina. Pici is a fresh spaghetti, handmade one by one.

Day 6: Siena (38 miles/60 km)
After breakfast ride toward San Quirico, an Etruscan origin village with a superb Italian garden: the Horti Leonini. Pass through Asciano and Le Crete with strange rock formations and lone a farmhouse flanked by twin cypress trees.

Let's pedal through vineyards and forest and arrive in Siena. Visit the shell shape square where the Palio horse race is run and enjoy lunch on your own. Back to the villa, you'll have time for a jump in the pool and a rest. We'll have our farewell dinner at a restaurant at la bandita townhouse.

Day 7: Individual departure
After a farewell breakfast all together, we will transfer you to the Chiusi train station around 10-11:00am. (On request we will arrange transfer at different time.)

Surface and terrain

The daily cycling itinerary is designed to be a vacation, not a race! The pace is relaxed to enable you to enjoy the scenery. The terrain will be gently rolling with some hills. Each day will cover an average of 25-35 miles (40-56 km) a day. If you are an advanced cyclist who wants to do more mileage, that can be accommodated. Backup transportation and support is always available.

It is possible to have non-riding participants, as there will be optional activities to do instead of cycling. Shorter options are always available, enabling riders of all abilities will have a selection of distances to choose from each day.

Hotels

Booked location dependent upon availability.

Podere Palazzi, val d’Orcia
The farmhouse was built in the 1930s by the Marquis Origo replacing an old inn where the Eminences used to rest when they were going through the nearby Francigena road. The villa has 9 rooms.

Le Fontanelle, Monticchiello
This beautiful country house is not far from the medieval town of Monticchiello. Here you can choose apartments and rooms with bath from different sizes furnished with all comforts. Rooms with wood-beamed ceilings are well sized and open to the most beautiful views of the valley.

There are 7 double bedrooms with bathroom.

Villa Boscarello, Trequanda
This marvelous 17th century Villa belongs to a large estate of 523 acres (212 hectares) owned by Duccio Pometti and his wife, discendents of a famous Sienese family. Furnished with rustic antiques, the Villa has a warm atmosphere of an authentic villa with Tuscan charm.

The Villa has 7 double/twin bedrooms and a suite, each with telephone, minibar and en suite facilities (with both showers and baths). The pool will be open May through September.

Close to the villa there is a totally renovated barn, named Bellaria, which can be rented for groups up to 4. The apartment consists of a living room with a fireplace and kitchen, two bedrooms (with double beds) and two bathrooms with baths and shower.

On the property there is also a rural hall with fireplace and wine cellar where you can sample local products, including extra virgin olive oil, wine and truffles.

How to get there

The tour company will transfer you to and from the Chiusi train station. On Day 1 the tour company will meet you at 14:00. On Day 7, you will go to the train station after breakfast. This service is included in the cost of the tour package.

Contact us with any questions about booking and paying for your tour through BikeTours.com. We look forward to serving you!

Cicloposse Terms and Conditions

Cancellations
In the event that you cancel your participation on the trip, the tour operator has the right to charge a penalty if the customer renounces his booking:

If cancellation occurs:

more than 60 days before starting date: no penalty (just handling charges of 19 euros plus .2 (point-2, not 2) percent of tour price)

between 60 and 45 days before starting date 30% penalty

between 44 and 30 days before starting date: 50% penalty

between 29 and 21 days before starting date: 70% penalty

within 20 days before starting date: 100% penalty

Cancellations by us
Scheduled guided tours with low enrollment may be subject to cancellation. Registrants will receive a forty-five day notice and full refund or option to move to another scheduled week. In very rare cases it may be necessary for the tour operator to cancel a tour. In the event of cancellation, a full refund will be sent to the client and this constitutes full settlement. The tour operator is not responsible for other expenses incurred such as pre-paid hotel reservations or non-refundable airline tickets.

Trip Insurance
The tour operator strongly recommends cancellation and accident insurance to prevent any losses in case of illness, accident or otherwise. It is the responsibility of the client to apply directly to the insurance company. Please purchase trip cancellation insurance in case an illness forces you to cancel or depart early from a trip.

Responsibility
Clients are responsible for selecting a tour suitable for their athletic ability. They are responsible for reading all pre-trip materials, informing us of any medical or dietary restrictions, signing our release form prior to the start of their tour, and obeying all safe biking rules. The tour operator reserves the right to decline or withhold service to any person who, for physical or other reasons, is deemed unfit for the trip. Every care will be taken to respect your luggage at all times. However, the tour operator is not responsible for damage, loss or theft of your personal belongings
Accommodations
Our accommodations are in excellent four and three-star hotels and country inns. We will do everything in our power to secure you lodgings in our first-choice hotels, but it may not be possible if you are booking less than three months before traveling or during a particularly busy season. In that case we will secure you lodgings in comparable hotels. Tour prices are based on double occupancy. Additional nights can be arranged for early arrivals or late departures. Single supplements are available upon request.

We will ask for your measurements to insure that you get the most suitable bike possible, we strongly recommend you book as early as possible.

You will be responsible for the bicycle once you take possession of it at your first hotel. Your responsibilities include any costs for damage or theft up to the full value of the bicycle.

Responsibility:
The tour operator and its representatives act only in the capacity of tour operators for land transportation, sightseeing and hotels which provide services included in the specified tour.

The individual tour participant agrees that the tour operator and its representatives shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity, liability or expense to person or property due to any act of default of hotel, land transportation carrier, restaurant supplier or other contractor rendering or providing services. The tour operator and its representatives shall not be responsible for any expense or liability resulting from labor disputes, war, acts of terrorism, government restraints, weather conditions, sickness, pilferage or any other cause beyond their control. The tour operator and its representatives reserve the right to accept, or to retain or refuse any person as a participant of any tour or to cancel any program of a tour if circumstances so demand.

Release:
By submitting a booking request, I have and do hereby fully assume all risk of illness, injury, or death and hereby release the tour operator from all actions, claims, or demands for damages resulting from my participation on the trip. I agree that the foregoing obligation shall be binding upon me personally, as well as upon my heirs, executors and administrators and all members of my family, including any minors accompanying me. I have had sufficient opportunity to read this entire document. I have read and understood points above and I agree to be bound by their terms.

Reviews

star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullmkleynOctober 3, 2017

Better than I expected!

Our guide,GiGI, was fabulous. He knew everyone's style and accommodated each of us. Loved the cooking in a homey kitchen. The restaurants we were taken to were in small local towns, and the food was fabulous!

star-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullstar-fullerinmargoApril 26, 2016

Best vacation ever

There were so many positives on this trip. We were fortunate to have a fun group of like minded people on our tour. The villa is spectacular, Pometti was a fabulous, down to earth host, the food awesome, wine so good I shipped a bunch home and every location we visited was special. Marco & Guiliana are such a great team and excellent tour leaders. I have told many people about this wonderful experience and recommended to many.